‘Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena’ is a book of her life and legacy told through the eyes of her fans

Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez is a compilation of poems and prose that expands on the impact of the late iconic Mexican American singer. This book is not a regurgitation of the story that we’ve seen on film, books, or the Netflix series. Instead, it provides a fresh perspective on Selena’s music and the effect of her public persona on the fans who would do “Anything for Salinas!”

‘Dreaming’ is a beautifully crafted tribute in that each piece selected combines the duality of living as a Mexican/Latino in the United States. It also creates a space in which fans can truly relate to the shared experience of watching Selena grow, the joy that her music embedded into the soul of its listener, and the loss that came with her death. The blend of voices, per each literary piece, goes from English to Spanish and even includes pieces that blend both languages together. This adds authenticity to the work as a whole, given Selena’s constant code-switch between the two languages throughout her career. Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla-Perez is made up of 28 pieces of prose and poetry.

Of these 28 the three that resonated with me most were the following:

• Roses in My Throat
• What Selena Means to Me
• Poemas Sin Titulo

These personal accounts show the impact her music had on the everyday life and struggle of navigating both worlds. As soon as the beat starts on a Selena song, you know it! Every single mouth in the room starts mouthing and singing along. That feeling that wraps around you is joyous and bittersweet because when the song ends you are left to reflect a voice that touches your soul no matter how much time has passed. This book is a great one for fans.

Rating: 8.5/10

You can purchase Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez at FlowerSong Press.

Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez
Edited By: Odilia Galvan Rodriguez
Age range: 17 & up
Language: English & Spanish
Pub Date: August 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7345617-7-7
Page count: 156
Genre: Poetry & Literary Fiction
Publisher: FlowerSong Press
Reviewed by Veronique Medrano

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